Heat, sandstorms, patrols: Wilson recalls Iraq duty

"I'm right back into where I left off, just being `Dad' and taking care of two little girls," Wilson said.

Wilson and fellow Sgt. Kit Wangelin, also a White Salmon resident, served in the same battalion of the Oregon National Guard, although in separate platoons. They returned home together and were gratified to be greeted by a welcoming parade and streets adorned with flags and banners.

Wilson said the greeting from the citizens of Bingen and White Salmon touched them.

"I really appreciate the welcome home we got from the community," Wilson said. "It was very great, and I couldn't believe the response. It was so nice."

Wilson, who turns 36 next month, grew up in Mill City, Ore. He joined the Army in 1985, when he was 17, and later served in the Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns in 1990-91.

After serving for 14 months in the Middle East on his most recent tour of duty, Wilson said it was unlikely he would be called to go back anytime soon.

"Whatever time we spent over there, we're given time and a half away, so that would be 21 months. But they could call us up in an emergency," he said.

Wilson's unit rotated out of Iraq just before there was an upsurge in attacks on American forces there.

"We got out six days before the order came down that all troops in the theater would be extended," he explained. "There were actually some troops leaving that were on the plane when the order came down: `Sorry, we need you.' It was a blow to morale, when you're ready to go home. But with the state of affairs, when you're called, you suck it up and go on. In five years of marriage, I've been deployed twice. It's been tough on my wife. But it's hard to walk away from the service. There is a special bond soldiers share."

Wilson said he supports the campaign in Iraq, because Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein represented a threat to the region.

"I was actually glad to see President Bush take the initiative, and that people realized what they were up against -- tyranny," he explained. "One death on either side is too many. But out of a struggle, something good usually comes of it. Our country for example, had a bloody war for independence. What we're doing is vital and necessary for world stability. Even though we live in a modern, so-called civilized world, there are people like Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Hitler, Stalin. You wonder how and where these people come from. The world is so small now, we can't afford to sit back and not do anything."

Despite the latest flare-up of violence within Iraq, Wilson said he believes a wide majority of the Iraqi population supports what the United States is striving to do. But he stressed that the support is not unconditional.

"I think we need to get more specific on what our objectives are," Wilson explained. "The biggest complaint from the Iraqis is that they want things resolved. We've had over a year. The Iraqis are very proud people, and I understand why they don't want us there. But if we left now, it would break down into civil war. If that were to happen, it would be even worse. If they keep progressing, they could be a model of democracy in the Middle East. The country has so much potential."

The desert regions of the Middle East are legendary for their extreme weather conditions, and Wilson said the reports had not been exaggerated.

"The hottest day in August was 157 degrees. It was like a dry sauna," Wilson explained. "You'd feel your eyes drying out, and your nasal membranes cracking. It was just horrible. I never experienced heat like that. You'd drink between 10-17 liters of water a day, and we slept only about two hours a day, it was so hot. Initially, when we were patrolling in the day, our weapons were so hot we'd have to wear gloves. The Iraqis thought we must be Supermen to be out there dressed like we were."

Wilson said they eventually brought generators in and had a bit of air conditioning at their base camp.

"That made life more bearable," he said.

The region's sandstorms could also be daunting.

"You can see them coming," Wilson said. "You put on your goggles and hold a rag over your face and ride it out as best you can. The worst one, you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you. Day became like night. It's amazing what you can get used to. I actually kind of miss it."

Wilson and his team operated mostly at night. Their mission was basic, and dangerous: watch for anyone who might have hostile intent, and be on the lookout for explosive devices.

"We were working to keep main supply routes open. The insurgents planted IED (improvised explosive devices) at night, or would set up mortar positions," Wilson recounted. "They would cover the IEDs with debris or bodies of dogs, or by encasing them in concrete. Anything we had any suspicions about, we'd check it out. We would go out at about 6 p.m., when it was still a little light, so the Iraqis could see us. Then they'd lose us in the night. We'd look for weapons caches, and set up ambushes, hoping we'd catch a mortar crew coming through. Our biggest fear was mortars. Their mortar crews were pretty good. We played a serious game of cat and mouse with them. They knew we were looking for them, so they kept moving. Because of what we were doing, they couldn't target us effectively."

During the time he was there, Wilson said his base was hit by mortars three times, with rounds landing inside the base perimeter.

"Luckily, there were only minor injuries," he said. "When the rounds fell, we'd grab our Kevlar vests and helmets and prepare to repel an attack, but it never came. They were trying to inflict casualties without risk to themselves."

As is often the case in wartime, innocents could get in the way during firefights. For that reason, Wilson said they tried to show restraint.

"Some of the areas we couldn't have opened up with everything we had because the fire was coming from a house," he explained. "But we'd go back and visit in the daylight, and a lot of times we were glad we didn't fire on a house, because it was full of children. I told my guys, better to err on the side of caution than create an incident that inadvertently takes innocent life."

Even with the battlefield dangers, some incidents sparked humor. Wilson remembered one time when even the threat of deadly fire had become so routine that it had a comical edge.

"One day, everyone was up and relaxing, just sitting around reading after 12 or 15 hours on patrol," he recalled. "All of a sudden we heard a long burst of fire toward the front gate. After it stopped, everyone looked over the berm. `Was that another drive-by shooting?' someone said. `Yes, I think it was,' another soldier responded. Then we all went back to reading."

Wilson said he often worried more about his men than he did about himself.

"I had eight men I was responsible for, and my biggest fear was not so much the Iraqis. I've fought them before," Wilson said. "My biggest fear was that I would make a mistake and possibly get one of my guys killed. That's been the biggest motivating factor for me. When we're training, sometimes the guys hate me, but the training gives them a better chance of surviving. So I'm constantly reading and working to improve my knowledge. They deserve that I'll be the best team leader I can be. As Patton said, `The more you sweat in training, the less you'll bleed in war.'"

Despite the hardships and the dangers, Wilson believes the morale of the soldiers on duty in Iraq remains high.

"Of course, there is bellyaching that goes on. But the biggest complaint is that units are not being used for what they were designed to do," he explained. "We are infantry. If we are infantry, let's go do an infantry mission, not base security or escorting contractors. Other units, like artillery or chemical units, were cross-trained as infantry, and sent north and turned loose to patrol. You can't give someone three and a half months of training and expect them to be able to do the job."

However, Wilson hopes the United States boosts its troop strength -- not only in the current campaign in Iraq, but to make sure the military does not get stretched too thin.

"We don't have enough infantry divisions left," Wilson said. "I don't agree with [Secretary of Defense] Rumsfeld -- he wanted to cut two more divisions. We need more infantry and armor divisions. He was saying we have enough people. Well, we don't. We definitely need more troops -- more civil affairs people, more MPs, more infantry. I don't agree with Rumsfeld's idea about going to a technology-based military. That's great, that can help you win. But technology can't hold ground."

With so many Americans still on duty in Iraq and their families back home worried about them, Wilson said staying in communication was vital.

"Make sure you keep writing. Letters are so important," he said. "The mail takes about two weeks to arrive, but it's so important for morale. It's also important for sons to write back to let the families know they are OK, and if there is any chance to use the phone or a direct satellite line, I encourage them to use it. For the families: keep praying. Prayer does work. It got to the point that before almost any mission I'd take a knee and pray for God's protection. And also pray for my enemies, to divert them. I don't want to run into them and don't want to pull a trigger on them. There is a human aspect to this. Those people I'm potentially looking for, they have wives and sons and families too."

Wilson had some pointed advice for those now serving in Iraq.

"As long as they keep their eyes open and are aware of their surroundings, they should be OK. The biggest factor in combat deaths in young men, 17 to 26, is being impatient," Wilson said. "Everybody has that `Rambo' complex to a degree. It doesn't work like that. You have to work as a team. The squad is your protection. Depend on your team and squad, and listen to people who've been there and do have combat experience."